Air impulse electrical switch with alternate action

ABSTRACT

An air impulse electrical switch including a vane having an arm attached thereto for contacting a switch actuating member in the form of a loosely hinged rod. Upon deflection of the vane by an air impulse, the unhinged end of the rod moves along the sides of a triangular-shaped member between first and second positions on opposite sides of the member&#39;&#39;s apex. A pressure-sensitive switch is positioned in relation to the rod so as to provide actuation and deactuation thereof when the rod is in the first and second positions, respectively.

United States Patent Oscar F. Lindstrom Great Falls, Mont. 59401 35,953

May 1 l, 1970 Nov. 16, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented AIR IMPULSE ELECTRICAL SWITCH WITH ALTERNATE ACTION 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl ZOO/81.9 R, a

46/44, 200/153 J, 273/102.2 R, 340/16 M Int. Cl 01h35/40, HOlh 13/60 Field ofSearch ZOO/81.911,

61.41,61.0l,61.21,61.03,153J;46/41,44; 273/1022 R, 102.2 S; 124/1 1; 340/16 M [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,565 10/1947 Guidosh ZOO/81.9 R 3,126,463 3/1964 Kmiecik ZOO/81.9 R

FOREIGN PATENTS 216,014 11/1909 Germany ZOO/81.9 R

Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Merchant & Gould ABSTRACT: An air impulse electrical switch including a vane having an arm attached thereto for contacting a switch actuating member in the'form ofa loosely hinged rod. Upon deflection of the vane by an air impulse. the unhinged end of the rod moves along the sides of a triangular-shaped member between first and second positions on opposite sides of the member's apex. A pressure-sensitive switch is positioned in relation to the rod so as to provide actuation and deactuation thereof when the rod is in the first and second positions. respectively.

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INVUNTOR. 05cm 1". Lmosmom HTTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to air impulse switching apparatus and particularly to an air impulse switch including a hinged vane deflectable upon exposure to an air impulse for actuating the switch.

Presently, there are numerous applications for air impulse switches. For example, the ability to actuate and deactuate an electrical toy with an air-expelling gun, or even a small breath of air, leads additional appeal and excitement to the toy.

Preferably, an air impulse electrical switch should be easy to manufacture, inexpensive and durable. Moreover, it is highly desirable that the switching action be reliable and sensitive to small air impulses which are properly directed at the switching apparatus. For instance, in the toy field it is commercially desirable that the switch be capable of actuation and deactuation by an air impulse such as is provided by an air-expelling gun of the type currently available in the toy am market. Preferably, the switching apparatus should be capable of actuation and deactuation of such guns at distances of -15 feet. Furthermore, it is desirable that the air impulse switch design be such that the switching apparatus can either be built into the toy or provided as a separate accessory.

The air impulse electrical switches provided by the prior art are not as reliable or sensitive as is desired. Moreover, the prior an air impulse switches have not facilitated ease of manufacture to the extent desired and have consequently been relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The air impulse switching apparatus provided by the present invention includes an air impulse deflectable vane which is pivotally attached to a housing. Upon deflection of the vane, a control member attached to the deflectable vane contacts a switch actuating member connected to the housing so as to vertically and laterally move the switch actuating member between first and second positions. An electrical switch operatively associated with the switch actuating member is actuated when the actuating member is in its first position and deactuated when it is in its second position. In a preferred embodiment, the switch actuating member includes a rod which moves along guide means in the form of a triangularly shaped member; the before-mentioned first and second positions being at the base of the triangular member on opposite sides of the apex thereof.

The above-mentioned apparatus provides an air impulse electrical switch which is sensitive to small air impulses and which provides reliable switching action over extended periods of time. Furthermore, the present invention facilitates ease of manufacture and thereby provides a relatively inexpensive product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWING Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals designated like parts of the invention through the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air impulse electrical switch provided by the present invention including an air-expelling gun for actuation and deactuation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view along the plane of section line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view along the plane of section line 44 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial diagrammatical illustration of the present invention illustrating the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates an air impulse switch, generally designated 10, which is actuated and deactuated by an air impulse such as provided by a conventional air-expelling toy gun 11. It should be understood, however, that the switching apparatus provided by the present invention can be actuated and deactuated by any suitable means for providing an air impulse which is properly directed at the switching apparatus. As used herein, the term "air impulse" includes any air current, movement or general air disturbance which, when properly directed, will actuate or deactuate switch 10.

Normally, the switching mechanism is enclosed in means, such as a housing 14, for maintaining the preferred positions of the switching mechanism as described herein. Preferably, the housing is designed so as to allow air passage freely there through. For example, air passage through substantially enclosed housing 14 can be provided by louvering or screening the front and back sides 15 and 16, respectively, thereof.

In conjunction with the following structural description, reference should be made to the cross-sectional views of the air impulse switching apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

As illustrated, a vane 20 is pivotally attached to the sidewalls of housing 14. The pivotal movement is obtained by hinge means 21 and 22 which are attached to the sidewalls of housing 14 and positioned at the point of suspension of deflectable vane 20. Vane 20 can be pivotally mounted to housing 14 by any one of numerous conventional methods which provide a freely deflectable vane.

Defiectable vane 20 has a control member attached thereto illustrated as an arm 25. A first end 26 of arm 25 is attached near the vanes hinged end. A second end 27 of arm 25 extends through a slot 28 in a horizontal plate 29; plate 29 forming a portion of housing 14 above vane 20. End 27 has angularly shaped edges of fingers 27a and 27b which are outwardly flared from a horizontal center 27c.

A switch actuating means, such as a rod 30 and hinge means 31, is positioned above vane 20 and arm 25. A first end 30a of rod 30 is connected to horizontal plate 29 by conventional hinge 31 for vertical and lateral movement about its second end 30b. As illustrated, rod 30 extends substantially the entire length of horizontal plate 29 and is inclined with respect to the plate; end 30a being higher than end 30b. Further, rod 30 is operatively associated with a means, illustrated as a triangularshaped member 35, for guiding the vertical and lateral move ment of the rod. As will become apparent herein, the geometry of the guide means determines the magnitude of the air impulse necessary to actuate or deactuate switch 10. End 30a is so connected to plate 29 that second end 30b can move along the sides of triangular-shaped member 35 and alternately assume a position at the base of the body on either side of the members apex. The position assumed by rod 30 is FIGS. 2-4 will hereafter be referred to as the first position; whereas the position assumed by rod 30 when end 30b is resting at the base of member 35 on the opposite side of the apex thereof will hereafter be referred to as the second position. As illustrated, member 35 is mounted on horizontal plate 29 directly above vane 20 and second rod end 30b does not extend beyond member 35.

A conventional pressure switch 38 is mounted on surface 29 and includes pressure responsive means illustrated as an arm 40 outwardly extending in a direction perpendicular to rod 30. Electrical circuiting (not shown) electrically connects pressure switch 38 and an electrical device not shown). As illustrated, when rod 30 is in its first position, the rod and arm 40 are not engaged and switch 10 is actuated. When rod 30 is in its second position, the rod and arm are engaged; arm 40 lying beneath the rod. Consequently, the rod presses down switch arm 40 and opens the contacts of switch 39 thereby deactuating switch 10.

A barrier 60 is mounted along rod 30 between slot 28 and triangular-shaped member 35 so as to prevent movement of the rod other than between its first and second positions. The barrier, however, may be positioned between slot 29 and hinged end 30a of rod 30. Preferably, the barrier is designed so as to have outwardly flared sides 60a and 60b which are separated at their point of attachment to plate 29 by a distance 5 substantially equal to the length of the base of triangularshaped member 35.

Vane 20 may be constructed of a material such as paper,

thin plastic and the like. If necessary, the material (e.g., paper) can be reinforced so as to provide a substantially inlo flexible vane of minimum weight. The remaining portions of the apparatus can be constructed of plastic or other suitable materials. The material should be chosen, however, so as not to result in an excessive amount of friction between l rod 30 and triangular-shaped member 35; (2) rod 30 and arm 25; and (3) rod 30 and electrical switch arm 40. Finally, rod 30 must have a suflicient weight to exertan adequate pressure on electrical switch arm 40 for opening the electrical contacts in switch 38 when the rod engages the arm in its second position, For example, a metal rod or a weighted plastic rod can be utilized.

In operation, an impulse of air properly directed at vane 20 causes the vane and arm to swing initially inward toward end 16 of housing 14. As arm 25 swings inwardly, end 27 of arm 25 contacts rod 30. The initial contact of end 27 with rod 30 is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 5a. As the vane continues to swing inwardly, arm 25 continues to move upward resulting in rod 30 moving generally upward and laterally toward the left in FIG. 5 as the rod moves along flared edge 27a of end 27. In FIG. 5b, arm 25 is at the top of its full inward swing. At this point, rod 30 just clears the apex of triangularshaped member and is continuing to slide laterally toward the left along horizontal section 250 of end 25. After reaching the top of its swing, am 25 begins a downward and outwardly 35 directed swing. As this occurs, rod 30 slides down the left hand side of member 35 and engages electrical switch arm exerting a downward pressure thereon, thereby opening the switch contacts and deactuating switch 10. Rod 30 assumes a resting or quiescent position in its second position at the base 40 of body 35. In this quiescent position, rod 30 and end 27 of arm 25 are disengaged. This disengagement design permits the arm to acquire momentum before it contacts rod 30. A distance of approximately one-eighth inch between end 27 and rod 30, for example, has been found to facilitate operation of the present invention.

Upon exposure of vane 20 to a second air impulse, rod 30 returns to its first position reactuating switch 38. The return movement to the first position occurs in the reverse manner from the movement of the rod from its first position to its second position. Also apparent from the above description, the vertical height of triangular-shaped body 35 detennines the magnitude of the air impulse necessary to actuate and deactuate switch 10.

The above-described air impulse electrical switch provides reliable and sensitive operation. For instance, the switch can be reliably activated and deactivated at distances of 10-15 feet using the air-expelling toy guns currently available.

The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifica- 6O tions and changes will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An air impulse switch, comprising:

a. housing means;

b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing and deflectable by an air impulse;

. a switch actuating member connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement between first and second positions;

d. means defining a control member having a first end fixedly attached to said vane and having a second end for engaging said actuating member so as to vertically and laterally move said actuating member between its first and second positions; and

e. electrical switch means operatively associated with said actuating member and actuated and deactuated when said actuating member is in its first and second positions, respectively.

2. The air impulse switch of claim 1 including guide means attached to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said switch actuating member between its first and second positions.

3. The air impulse switch of claim 2, wherein:

a. said switch actuating member includes a rod having a first end pivotably connected to said housing as to allow vertical and lateral movement of said rod; and

b. said control member is adapted to move said rod along said guide means between said first and second positions.

4. An air impulse switch comprising:

a. housing means;

b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing and deflectable by an air impulse;

c. a switching actuating member including a rod having a first end connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement between first and second positions;

d. guide means including a substantially triangular-shaped member mounted along the base thereof to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said rod between first and second positions thereof, said positions of said rod being substantially at the base of said triangular-shaped member on opposite sides of the apex thereof;

e. means defining a control member connected to said vane and adapted to move said rod along said guide means between said first and second positions; and

f. electrical switch means operatively associated with said actuating member and actuated and deactuated when said rod is in its first and second positions, respectively.

5. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein said electrical switch means includes pressure responsive means positioned so as to be in engagement and disengagement with a said rod when said rod is in said first and second positions, respectively.

6. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein:

a. said housing means includes a substantially horizontal plate positioned above said vane and defining a slot therein;

b. said triangular-shaped member and said rod are positioned on the upper side of said horizontal plate; and

c. said control member includes an am having a first end attached to said vane and a second end adapted to extend through said slot in said horizontal surface to contact said rod means on deflection of said vane.

7. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein said second end of said arm means includes first and second outwardly angular edges arising from a substantially horizontal center.

8. The air impulse switch of claim 7 including means defin ing a barrier positioned along said rod means so as to restrict movement of said rod to substantially between said first and second positions.

9. The air impulse switch of claim 8 wherein:

a. said housing is substantially enclosed and includes substantially vertical ends adapted to allow air passage therethrough;

b. said vane is composed of a substantially inflexible materic. said barrier means is attached to said horizontal surface between said slot and said triangular-shaped body; and

d. said triangular-shaped body is positioned substantially directly above said vane.

10. An air impulse switch, comprising:

a. means defining a housing;

b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing means and deflectable by an impulse;

c. rod means connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement of said rod means between first and second positions;

d. guide means attached to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said rod means between said first and second positions;

a control member connected to said vane for engaging said rod means so as to vertically and laterally move said rod means between said first and second positions; and electrical switch means having pressure responsive means positioned so as to be in engagement and disengagement with said rod means when said rod means is in said first and second positions, respectively, thereby actuating and deactuating said electrical switch means. 

1. An air impulse switch, comprising: a. housing means; b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing and deflectable by an air impulse; c. a switch actuating member connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement between first and second positions; d. means defining a control member having a first end fixedly attached to said vane and having a second end for engaging said actuating member so as to vertically and laterally move said actuating member between its first and second positions; and e. electrical switch means operatively associated with said actuating member and actuated and deactuated when said actuating member is in its first and second positions, respectively.
 2. The air impulse switch of claim 1 including guide means attached to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said switch actuating member between its first and second positions.
 3. The air impulse switch of claim 2, wherein: a. said switch actuating member includes a rod having a first end pivotably connected to said housing as to allow vertical and lateral movement of said rod; and b. said control member is adapted to move said rod along said guide means between said first and second positions.
 4. An air impulse switch comprising: a. housing means; b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing and deflectable by an air impulse; c. a switching actuating member including a rod having a first end connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement between first and second positions; d. guide means including a substantially triangular-shaped member mounted along the base thereof to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said rod between first and second positions thereof, said positions of said rod being substantially at the base of said triangular-shaped member on opposite sides of the apex thereof; e. means defining a control member connected to said vane and adapted to move said rod along said guide means between said first and second positions; and f. electrical switch means operatively associated with said actuating member and actuated and deactuated when said rod is in its first and second positions, respectively.
 5. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein said electrical switch means includes pressure responsive means positioned so as to be in engagement and disengagement with a said rod when said rod is in said first and second positions, respectively.
 6. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein: a. said housing means includes a substantially horizontal plate positioned above said vane and defining a slot therein; b. said triangular-shaped member and said rod are positioned on the upper side of said horizontal plate; and c. said control member includes an arm having a first end attached to said vane and a second end adapted to extend through said slot in said horizontal surface to contact said rod means on deflection of said vane.
 7. The air impulse switch of claim 4 wherein said second end of said arm means includes first and second outwardly angular edges arising from a substantially horizontal center.
 8. The air impulse switch of claim 7 including means defining a barrier positioned along said rod means so as to restrict movement of said rod to substantially between said first and second positions.
 9. The air impulse switch of claim 8 wherein: a. said housing is substantially enclosed and includes substantially vertical ends adapted to allow air passage thErethrough; b. said vane is composed of a substantially inflexible material; c. said barrier means is attached to said horizontal surface between said slot and said triangular-shaped body; and d. said triangular-shaped body is positioned substantially directly above said vane.
 10. An air impulse switch, comprising: a. means defining a housing; b. a vane pivotally attached to said housing means and deflectable by an impulse; c. rod means connected to said housing for vertical and lateral movement of said rod means between first and second positions; d. guide means attached to said housing for vertically and laterally guiding said rod means between said first and second positions; e. a control member connected to said vane for engaging said rod means so as to vertically and laterally move said rod means between said first and second positions; and f. electrical switch means having pressure responsive means positioned so as to be in engagement and disengagement with said rod means when said rod means is in said first and second positions, respectively, thereby actuating and deactuating said electrical switch means.
 11. The air impulse switch of claim 10 wherein said guide means includes a substantially triangular-shaped member mounted along the base thereof to said housing, said first and second positions of said rod being substantially at the base of said triangular-shaped member on opposite sides of the apex thereof. 